THE CABLE GUY
A film review by Michael Redman
Copyright 1996 Michael Redman
**1/2 (out of ****)
First of all, let's get one thing straight. This is not the movie you think it is going to be. It's not another "Ace Ventura" and it's not very much at all what you would expect from Jim Carrey. Matthew Broderick is Steven Kovacs, a white collar everyman who has just moved out from the apartment that he and his girlfriend shared. His eviction came at her suggestion following his marriage proposal. Not feeling all that great about his life and attempting to set up housekeeping, one of his initial orders of business is to order cable. His first mistake.
In a situation everyone can sympathize with, Kovacs waits and waits for his cable guy to appear. When Carrey finally shows up to deliver the electronic babysitter, he seems a bit off, but gives Kovacs free cable and the two lonely guys agree to hang out.
Carrey, who says his name is "Ernie Douglas, but my friends call me Chip" (ring any bells?), turns out to be a psychopathic emotional vampire who latches on to Broderick like a leech. In the Cable Guy's mind they have instantaneously become best buds. The film has more in common with "Single White Female" and other stalker movies than it does with "Dumb And Dumber". It is certainly not for the kids (The most humorous event was the loud question from the four-year-old girl in the row behind me, "Daddy, what=B9s a prostitute?") nor is it overflowing with the typical Carrey stupid physical comedy, although it does feature some of that. Can you imagine a Carrey film that wouldn't?
For some reason unfathomable to me, audiences at most Jim Carrey films are rolling in the aisles in laughter. At this one they'll spend more time squirming in their seats. While there are a few funny bits, the uncomfortable ones are more plentiful.
Why uncomfortable? Probably because we all have had a "friend" that the Cable Guy reminds us of. Someone who has more invested in the relationship than we do. Someone who would do anything for us, except leave us alone. This film shoves the possibilities in our faces.
Carrey's character takes his position to the extreme: beating up Kovacs' girlfriend's date in a restroom, playing "Porno Password" with Kovacs' parents, giving Kovacs thousands of dollars worth of video equipment. The Cable Guy (we never learn his real name) doesn't have a life so he takes over Kovacs'. It's difficult to even write a sentence about him without using the word "Kovacs".
Carrey is passable in this role: certainly more of an actor and funnier than in his previous attempts. Broderick is always charming, but here he seems to concentrate on getting out of Carrey's way. The rest of the cast are minor roles that run the range from adequate to almost inspired.
There are a few plot problems and some shoddy editing, but it's a beginning for Carrey. If, that is, anything could be a beginning for a man that makes $20 million.
[Note: This originally appeared in The Bloomington Voice, Bloomington, Indiana, 6/20/96. Michael Redman can be found at mredman@bvoice.com]
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